The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-03
hrs. JlS. BROWN POTTER
MAKES HER DEBUT In LONDON
AS UAENE SYLVESTER"
Before an Elite Audience at the
Haynarket, the Prince and Piin'
cess OF Wales Being Present.

Wales Theater. The debut of Mrs.
James Brown Potter had been post
poued from last Saturday expressly
10 suit His Royal Highness's con-
yeniense, He sat in the royal box,
with Lord Seton, Of his suite,
a prastieal chef de claque. The
audience divided its atten-
tion between him and the de-
butante. When the Prince smiled a
large number Of the auditors smiled.
When he patted his hands they lus-
tily applauded. When his cambria
Huttersd at his eyes as the heroine
went their hemstitched or lace
bordered kerchiefs kept fearful uni
son. Such Was the flow OF popular
taste into the royal mould. 1t was
the pleasantest swell incident thus
far in the Jubilee year.
The audience was a representative
society one, with only sprinkling OF
frst nighters. The tickets had been
allotted. like the Guinness shares, to
favored bidders, and there had been
an absolute embargo at the ticket
ofice on the general public. There
was a good representation OF favored
Americans in the boxes and stalls.
Mrs. Bloomfield Moore, Uf Philadel-
mia, Of Keely motor fame, shared a
box with Mr.. and Mrs. Bancroft.
Oppssite the royal box were Lady
Randolph Churchill, Lady Harcourt,
daughter of the late historian Mot
lev; Mrs Hughes Hallett nee Miss
Emily Schonberg, Mrs. and Miss
Meigs, Dir. and Mrs. W. Hurlbert,
George Ii. Bong hton and Il. A.
Rufus Hatch particularly represent
ing the American colony.
All recognized the fact that Mrs,
Brown Potter was to appear under
many disadvantages. She has no per-
sonal manager; the lessees Of the the
alter are not conspicuous for successes
nor for good luck, and since the Ban
orofts left the lessees have apparently
been content to let the old Hay
market rest on its traditions. There
is also no pit in the theater: Now, a
London pit is joy to both box office
and player, and it havors the stiff
ness Of society in the boxes and
stalls with its spontaneity OF popular
cheers
Moreover, the debutante lacked an
Abby or q Rice, Loveday or a
jarrett. None Of these would have
permitted her to appear in the ema--
culated version of Man and WIFE
presented tonight, nor perhaps in
any version Of it. The action, or
rather want of action, of this part
while the dialogue proceeds obliged
"Anne Sylvester" Mrs. Potter's
character) to sit four times tonight
statue like as listener. This was not
ably the case in the last act, where a
dreary court martial, as it were, sits
fo decide the family rights In a
Scotch marriage. do not make any
sneci6s reference to the plot OF the
play, because it and the inspiring
novel from which it was taken are sc
widely known.
Only the most experienced act
resses can intelligently act with thel'
features or use nice pantomlme WINE
listening in seated attitudes to nara
tions or when surrounded by stage
business, both OF WHICH arouse man.
varying emotions, but compel silence
Before considering this evenings
performance, in justice to Mis-. Pot
ter, I ask, is she to be regarded as
member OF stock company or as
starr Only last week she modestl
told tho HeraLd corresponds mt, q
the office Of Mr.. George Lewis, he
solicitor, and in his presence, thf
she did not consider her appearance
to be ether than as a new member
the Haymarket company. ,
AS such her performance tonigl
can be geueralized as a success,
promise. Were it to be judged
the appearance Of star she was .
most failure. She at times tt
evening lacked the repose, graz
good stage walk, easy attitudes, t
seemingly unstudied, and yet limits
ed, natural shifting of position, t
repression of self consciousness,
changes of tone and absence OF san
ness in gesture, which are tho ;
auirements only of an actress
whom the alphabet and grammar,
IL were, Of stage technique is as
miliar as A, b, G, or pen and ink
the author
When this evening she entered
the Goyerness, amid the helrti
encouragement, she showed full sc
possession in manner, but much n
vousness in looks. She was paic, a
like many new actress, had see
ingly declined the best aids of INT
up
She seemed to feel thus: He
tefore my appearances have b.
gratutious compliments to oth'
Now / am paid professional. l h
made bound from beneath the C
delabra Of the amateurish salons
the footlights Of exacting Lon,
stage life. know that the dramI
advertisement of last week chrC
cled 100 actresses of experience
'diseng aged, and that they andl Il
friends call me an interloper;
oh auditors, be kind and indulgel
All these sentiments her featu
seemed W hlIIOI lIuih hol hSai'i
all through the first act she seel
depressed, and when the curtain
the Prince was temporarily out
the royal box, and there was no
call # her, something unusual
London theater.
The second act exhibited auoI
disadvantage against which she
to struggle. 1t opened in a Sc,
inn, where dinner was being SCI
by comical' Scotch waiter, phi
by Charles Collctte an actor Of !
experience and much popularity.
has throughout the act what s
folk call the tat Of the scene"
was capitally made up, aud a
with such minute skill as to OF
roars Of deserved laughter. II
preceded or followed, and sonnet
accom- panied, Mrs. Potters ST
emotional dialogue or business
ing moments wi en- the oues